Homeless man sentenced for West Norriton assault

COURTHOUSE—A homeless man charged with hitting and choking a doctor at the Montgomery County Emergency Services building in West Norriton in 2012 pleaded guilty on Wednesday to aggravated assault and was sentenced to time served to 23 months in prison.

Adam Schwager, 30, was also sentenced to four years of probation following his release. Schwager has been in prison since his arrest on Jan. 19, 2012. Additional charges of aggravated assault and simple assault were withdrawn by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

On Jan. 19, 2012, West Norriton police responded to the emergency services building for a report of an assault by a patient. When police arrived they learned one of the doctors was treating a patient, later identified as Schwager. The doctor reported Schwager started to get annoyed and hit the doctor in the head. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Schwager calmed down after a few minutes, but then put his right hand on the victim’s neck and began to choke him. The victim was able to escape Schwager’s grip and called the police.

Online court documents show Schwager has a criminal record in Montgomery County, dating back to 2003, which includes assault, risking catastrophe and arson.